Device for the examination of postage stamps



Oct. 16, 1951 N. A. EBENSON 2,571,188

DEVICE FOR THE EXAMINATION 0F POSTAGE STAMPS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 28, 1947 Oct. 16, 1951 N, A, BENSON 2,571,188

DEVICE FOR THE EXAMINATION OF POSTAGE STAMPS Filed Aug. 28, 1947 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

lib/mm Jae/15am ll l Patented Oct. 16, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR THE EXAMINATION OF POSTAGE STAMPS Norman A. Benson, Akron, Ohio Application August 28, 1947, Serial No. 771,035

2 Claims.

The invention relates to a device for the examination of postage stamps, and more especially to a handy working kit for a stamp collector.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a device of the kind described, wherein a stamp collector will have at his or her immediate command the necessary working gadgets for identifying the genuineness of selected species of stamps issued by a State, sovereignty, or other governmental body or authority, and thereby enabling the saving of considerable time and trouble to a collector, asall working implements are held compact and handy for prompt and convenient service.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character, wherein all implements are contained in a single unit, as may be required by a stamp collector, accepting stamp catalogues, or other like publications, these implements including the perforation guages, water-mark detecting fluid, the tray for the latter, a dropper for said fluid, and other accessories requisite for identifying the genuineness of postage stamps issued within a determined period of time, and in this manner avoiding the misplacement and loss of such implements, as well as time-saving and labor-saving to a user.

A further object of the invention. is the provision of a device of this character, which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and eflicient in working conditions for a stamp collector, readily and easily accessible, strong, durable, neat in appearance, affording a compact assembly, convenient for use, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose the preferred embodiment of the invention, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 22 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a horizontal transverse sectional view through the device.

Figure 5 is a side elevation.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail plan view of the traveling display strip, per se.

Similar reference characters indicate corre sponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A designates generally the kit or outfit in its entirety, and comprises a properly shaped outer box-like case, including unitary upstanding side and end walls, In and II, respectively, while built therewith interiorly of the said case are the intermediate longitudinal and lateral or transverse upstanding dividing walls l2 and I3, respectively, the wall |2 being parallel with the side walls III, while the walls I3 are parallel with the end walls I and due to the characterof separations therebetween create within the case A the variable sized compartments |4, I5, and I6, respectively, and a basin all with the exception of the compartment l4 being accessible through the top of the case.

The compartment M at its bottom I8 is fully open following the lower surface of the case A, while at the top of this compartment I4 is formed a flat bed l9 which is inset with relation to a marginal rim 2!! extending about the same, the said bed l9 being beneath a panel 2!! which has etched or otherwise indicated thereon at its outer face in spaced columnar order rows of postage stamp sized exposure areas 2|, 22, 23, and 24, respectively, for indicia, including margin perforation, color scheme, water-marking and yearly series issuing dates of postage stamps for enabling identification by stamp collectors as to the genuine character of a particular stamp. to be acquired by the latter.

Between the bed I9 and the panel 20' is arranged a traveling sheet-like indicia display strip 25, which is adapted to be wound on and from, alternately, a pair of roll spools 26, removably journaled within said compartment M, the winding of the strip being had by a turning hand knob or key 21 located exteriorly of the case A at one side thereof. This strip 25 has on its exposing surface the perforation guage, color chart, watermark and issue date indicia 28, 29, 39 and 3|, respectively, for register and display at the areas 2|, 22, 23 and 24, in selected order congruous thereto, whereby the user of the device can make a true identification of a particular-gaostage stamp to determine whether or not it is genuine in kind. The stamp under inspection must match in all indicia particulars the original issue requirements as displayed by the device for that particular stamp.

The rim 20 at the left of the case is equipped with suitable spring clips 32, each properly located selectively with respect to the areas 2|, 22,

23 and 24, to hold a selected postage stamp for inspection and identification through comparison by the indicia 28, 29, 30 and 3|, respectively, in place upon the said panel A, during testing period, thus it being seen that one or more stamps may be tested at one and the same time.

The compartment l5 at its open top has removably counterseated therein a detachable cover or closure top lid 32, while the compartment [6 at its open top is fitted with a removable closure cover 33, it having a center passage 34, the latter being adapted to accommodate a liquid dropper or the like, not shown, as compartment I 6 is designed to contain a water-mark detecting liquid, not shown, to be transferred therefrom by the dropper when filled therefrom, into the basin l1, so that a postage stamp canbe submerged therein within the liquid for easy detection of its water-mark on comparison with the indicia exposed by the outfit or kit therea for by placement of the treated stamp in place on the panel 20' beneath the spring clip 32.

The compartment I5 is designed to contain measuring rules and many accessories used by stamp collectors for testing postage stamps to determine their genuine character, as to margina1 perforation, color scheme, water marking, and yearly issue dates.

The device is compact, possessed of few parts, handy for convenient use, readily and easily handled, and enables postage stamp testing with dispatch.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for the examination of postage stamps, comprising: a body with a substantially flat uppermost portion having a compartment, a transparent panel area covering said compartment at the uppermost portion of the body and having postage stamp sized locatingmarkings,

4 and a traveling exhibitor strip having selective stamp perforation, color scheme, water-mark and yearly issue date indicia, respectively, confined in the compartment below the panel area and arranged to register with the locating markings for visibility of such indicia.

2. A device for the examination of postage stamps, comprising: a body with a substantially fiat uppermost portion having a compartment, a transparent panel area covering said compartment at the uppermost portion of the body and having postage stamp sized locating markings, a traveling exhibitor strip having selective stamp perforation, color scheme, water-mark and yearly issue date indicia, respectively, confined in the compartment below the transparent panel area and arranged to register with the locating markings for visibility of such indicia therethrough and means on the panel area for retaining a postage stamp in a fixed position with respect to the locating markings for comparison with the indicia companion thereto.

NORMAN A. BENSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,054,697 Fiala Sept. 15, 1936 2,248,148 Wilson July 8, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 135,226 Austria Nov. 10, 1933 561,426 France Oct. 22, 1938 522,018 Great Britain June 6, 1940 

